If you love coffee - there is a good chance you've had both incredible and downright awful cups of coffee. It can seem overwhelming to figure out what makes one experience different than another, but we are going to break it down for you.
TL;DR
When it comes down to it, you want fresh coffee ground right before being brewed that uses good water and brewed at the right ratio of coffee to water. Some solid principles include:
- Buy coffee with a roast date on it, not an expiration date. Ideally within a month of the roast date.
- Buy whole bean coffee and grind it at home whenever possible.
- Use water, such as bottled spring water, that has some mineral content in it for better tasting coffee.
Below will show you more detailed descriptions of how you make sure those things are happening.
Golden Ratio
When you’re brewing coffee, one of the most important things to getting the right taste is making sure the right amount of water is used for the amount of coffee you’re brewing with. We always start with the golden ratio of 1 part coffee to 16 parts water. You will see this listed as 1:16 ratio many places. Because most brewing guides and digital scales do things in grams, this would mean that you would use 400 grams of water when you are brewing with 25 grams of coffee (which will yield a 12 oz. cup of coffee). This is a great starting point for any coffee, and from there you can adjust to ratios anywhere from 1:15 to 1:18.
Espresso is different, and we do a 1:2 ratio for espresso shots.
Grind
When grinding your coffee, you want to make sure you grind for the method you are brewing. Ideally, you will grind right before you brew. If this is not possible, understand that the quality of your coffee will decrease significantly over time. Most pre-ground coffee you find at the store will not work well for pour overs, and are terrible for a French press. If you’re not going to buy a coffee grinder your best bet is to buy quality coffee at a local shop or roaster and have them grind it for you.
All coffees are different, but here is a summary of standards to help guide you to the best results.
Fine (Like Powdered Sugar)
Espresso and Turkish brew methods require a fine, almost powder-like grind. This is nearly impossible to accomplish without a proper grinder meant for espresso.
Medium Fine (Like Table Salt)
Aeropress is a brew method that can benefit from a medium fine grind, though Aeropress is notorious for have endless options and recipes.
Medium (Like Regular Sand)
Most pour overs, such as the V60 or the Kalita Wave, need a medium grind.
Medium Coarse (Like Rough Sand)
Chemex requires a coarser grind than your typical pour over, as well as the Clever Dripper.
Coarse (Like Sea Salt)
French press coffee requires coarse grind, as well as cold brew methods.